Rotary engine.



No. 838,928. PATBNTED DEC. 18, 1906. M. L. WILLIAMS. ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.13,1905.

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PATENTED DEC. 18, 1906.- M. L.- WILLIAMS. ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLIOATIONTILED APR.13,1905.

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MARTIN L. WILLIAMS, OF TACOMA, WASHINGTON.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 18, 1906.

Application filed April13,1905. Serial N0. 255,340.

To all whont it may concern:

Be it known that l, MARTIN L. humans, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Tacoma, in the county of Pierce and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Engines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to rotary engines, especially to those operated by steam or air pressure, and has for its objects to simplify the construction thereof; to obtain easy and ready access to all the parts thereof to have a positive connection between the sliding revolving pistons, thus eliminating any possibility of one of said pistons binding in its withdrawn position and refusing to extend out from the revolving ring, and thus allow ing'a great loss of power and waste of steam; to arrange the governor within the engine; to make the engine instantly reversible; to provide auxiliary exhaust-ports, and to control by means of an adjustable hand-lever the tension in the governor, and therefore the speed at which the engine will run. I attain these objects by the devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an end elevation of my engine. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section thereof, and Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross-section thereof. Figs. 5 and 6 are details of the auxiliary exhaust-valve. Fig. 7 is a vertical section through the center of one of the valve-chests. Fig. 8 is a similnr section through the passage connecting the exhaust portions of the valve-chest. Fig. 9 is a similar section through the passages connecting live-steam portions of the valve-chest; and Fig. 10 is a cross-section through both the livesteam and exhaust-steam portions of the valve-chest, the sections being taken near the end of the chest.

Similar numerals of reference refer to simi lar parts throughout the several views.

This engine consists of a circular ring secured to the shaft and rotating within an approximately elliptical stationary chamber, said circular body carrying with it a pair of segments of circles which slide in bearings in said circular body, the ends of said segments keeping constantly in contact with the inner surface of the stationary chamber. The portion of the segment projecting beyond the circular body receives the pressure of the steam and acts as a revolving piston. The steam is admitted from both sides of the engine in a continuous stream and is projected through a series of parallel ports into the space between the ellipse and the circle in a direction almost tangential to the circle. The steam is exhaused through similar ports, which are inclined at the same angle as the inlet-ports, but in the opposite direction thereto, and which cross the inlet-ports. A valve in the steam-chest at each side of the engine controls by its position which of these sets of ports shall be admission-ports and which will be exhaust-ports. The valves remain stationary so long as the speed is constant, but the position ofthe valve is con trolled by the governor which can in this way control the amount of steam supplied to the engine. The speed can be kept constant at any desired rate by a simple adjustment of'the tension of a spring placed between an arm controlled by the governor and a movable arm controlling the valves.

The stationary frame of my engine consists of a circular outside wall 1, having an elliptical inner wall 2 joined to it by the web on partition 3. Legs 4 are secured by bolts in appropriate positions to the casting 1 and may be of any convenient shape and form. Although my engine will probablyusually be secured with its feet to the floor, yet it is entirelyreversible, and the feet 4 may be altered slightly and the engine hung downward therefrom from the ceiling or from any suitable supporting structure. The partition 3, which joins the walls 1 and 2, is not in the middle of the space therebetween, but is placed much nearer one side, as shown in Fig. 3, the spaces thus formed being used for the steam-jacketing of the engine, the live steam entering directly into the smaller compartment through the supply-pipe 5, while the exhaust-steam passes from the larger compartment into the exhaust-pipe 6. These pipes 5 and 6 may enter the compartments at any point; but I believe that the best position will be between the legs 4, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The sides of the engine consist of two circular plates 7, secured to the circular wall 1 and closing the steamjacket spaces between walls 1 and 2. These plates are provided with a series of offsets, as shown in the drawings, to make room for the various devices in the interior of the engine. They are also provided with central bearings having steam-tight packing therein, these bearings being formed with screw-threaded glands 8, adapted to tighten the packing if they are screwed into the bearings. ()ilchambers 9 are secured to the plates 7 just adjacent to the bearings.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that on each side of the engine-frame is formed a, valve-chest. The wall 1 is cut on a vertical line, and the wall 2 is extended to the same line, and the ports 10 are formed in the metal body forming the extension, crossing each other alternately. The partition 3, joining the walls 1 and 2, is also brought to the same line. The valve chest is secured to the frame and has compartments therein at each end thereof corresponding to and connecting with the livesteam and exhaust-steam compartments of the steam-jacket already described. This is clearly shown in Fig. 10.

Referring to Figs. 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, the valve-chest consists of a box 11, having a cover 12 secured thereto and having four transverse partitions 13 extending from side to side and dividing the box into two end compartments 14, a central compartment 15, and two intermediate compartments 16. In the center of the valve-chest is a tube 17, extending vertically through the four partitions 13 and being open at both ends to the end compartments 14. The tube 17 has a number of holes passing through it into each of the compartments 15 and 16 and is adapted to receive a valve 18, shaped with pistons at its ends and with a free space between adapted to connect the hole through the tube entering one of the compartments 16 with the central compartment 15 and adapted to allow the hole entering the other compartment 16 to connect with the compartment 14 through the end of the tube 17. By moving the valve 18 in the tube 17 the pistons thereof will throttle the steam as it passes through the holes and will entirely out it off when the valve has reached the center of its travel and if moved farther in the same direction will cause a reversal of the direction of the flow of steam through the engine by changing the exhaust-ports into inlet-ports, and vice versa.

In Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are illustrated the passages formed within the valve-chest and connecting the various compartments. As before stated, the end compartments 14 have a partition therein corresponding with the wall or web 3 and. separating the compartment into a live-steam and an exhaust-steam section. The passages 19, Fig. 9, connect both of the live-steam sections of the compartments 14 with the central compartment 15. Thus the live steam always occupies the whole of the central compartment and passes through the holes into the inside of the tube 17, and thus to one or the other of the compartments 16, according to the position of the valve 18. The parts 10 are all connected with one or the other of the compartments 16, those from one compartment 16 altering arm 22, secured to the pivot-rod 23, journaled on the top of the engine. This rod 23 has a depending lever 24 secured to its end and having a triangular or heart shaped slot 25 in its end, as shown in Fig. 1. This slot 25 is engaged by the roller 26 on the end of a bell-crank lever 27, pivoted to the end of the journal and having its other end depending in front of the shaft 28, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. An. independent lever 29, with a handle 30, engaging a quadrant 31, is loosely mounted on the rod 22 and hangs behind the lever 24 and is joined thereto by a spring 32.

The shaft 28 has a central hole extending in toward the middle of the machine from the end in front of which the bell-crank lever 27 is hung and also has a transverse slot 33 at a point well within the engine. A rod 34 lies within the above-mentioned hole, extending from a little beyond the end of the shaft 28, where it engages the lever 27, and having an arm or plate 35 within the slot 33. The arms 36 of a centrifugal governor are pivoted to the center of the shaft and are shaped so as to press against the arm or plate 35 as the balls of the governor fly apart, thus pressing the plate 35 and the rod 34 outward and causing the rod 34 to move the bell-crank lever 27 and forcing the roller 26 down one side or the other of the triangular slot 25, which causes the lever 24 and the rod 23 and the rocking arm 22 to turn and moves the valves 18 by means of the valve-rods 21. This action is against the tension of the spring 32, which is controlled by the position of the lever 29 and the handle 30. Thus the action of the governor is controlled by the position of the handle 30. Further, by swinging the handle 30 and the lever 29 over to the opposite side the heart-shaped slot 25 is drawn over by the spring 32 therebe tween, and the valves 18 are moved into their reversed positions, and the engine revolves in the opposite direction. Further, by placing the handle 30 in a central position the spring is slackened, and the governor, having nothing to oppose it, flies out and forces the heart-shaped slot to take a central position, thus shutting off the steam by means of the valves 18, which also must assume a central position.

In Figs. 2, 5, and 6 I have illustrated my auxiliary exhaust-valve. Since the sets of portslO are all of the same size, it is evident that the area for the exhaust-steam to pass out of is the same as that through which the live steam enters, and there is consequently LLO a slight tendency to back pressure by the exhaust-steam. 1 overcome this difficulty by making four cylindrical slots 37, joining all the openings of the ports 10, and within each 'slot 1 place a supplementary valve 38, having holes therein adapted to register with holes leading directly to the exhaust portion of the steam-jacket when that set of ports 10 is used as exhaust-ports, but to be closed ofi from said holes when they are used as livesteam ports. The valve 38 is slid along the slot 37 by means of an arm 40, which engages in a long slot 41, which does not pass quite through the metal of the valve 38. The arm is formed on the horizontal spindle 42, journaled within the exhaust portions of the steam-jacket and of the connecting-compartment 14 and having a gear 43 engaging with a rack 44, secured to or formed on the valve-rod 21. The spindle 42 and arm 40 move with every movement of the valve 18; but since the arm 40 engages in a slot 41 the valve 38 is only moved when the valve 18 is moved beyond its central or shut-off position, so that if the valve 18 is reversed one pair of valves 38 are closed and the other pair are opened.

The revolving ring 45 is formed of four equal segments secured together by the side plates 46, which revolve with it. At the junctions of the four segments I place a filling or bearing of Babbitt or similar metal through which the segmental pistons 47 slide, as hereinafter described. The ring 45 is exactly circular and is of the same diameter as the minor diameter of the elliptical wall 2 within which it revolves. At the point of contact between the ring 45 and the wall 2 a contact-strip 48 is let into a recess or groove in the wall 2 between the ports 10. This strip 48 keeps a light but constant pressure against the ring 45.

The shape of the wall 2 is approximately elliptical, having its minor diameter equal to the diameter of the ring 45 and its major diameter at right angles thereto and equal to the minor diameter multiplied by the square root of one and one-fourth, (14.) I find, however, that an exact ellipse of these dimensions does not conform with the requirements of my engine, and I therefore slightly change the shape of the wall at points to conform with the hereinaftermentioned conditions.

The pistons 47 are formed on the arc of a circle whose center is distant from the center of the ring 45 a distance greater than the major axis of the ellipse by an amount equal to the difference between the major and minor axes. The radius of the arc of the circle of the pistons 47 is such that it passes through the quarter-points of the ring 45. The length of the arcs 47 is such that when the ring is in the position shown in Fig. 2 their ends touch the wall 2 at the minor diameter and at points near the major diameter.

The ends of the pistons 47 are provided with contact-strips 49, having an almost flat contact-surface and being curved so as to move freely in the pistons to allow for the changing angle of contact in different parts of the ellipse. The pistons 47 are made in two pieces having lap joints, so that the sides thereof are kept in constant contact with the side plates 7 and prevent any leakage of steam past them. Now I find that it is necessary to change the shape of the elliptical wall 2'at points, so that the ends of the pistons 47 will always be in contact therewith. As the ring 45 revolves it carries the pistons 47 with it, and they slide in the Babbitt bearings formed in the ring 45 as they project out of or recede into the ring 45. The proportions of the parts described above are such as to enable the two ends of the pistons 47 to act together, one advancing as the other recedes.

It is apparent that all parts of my engine are easily reached for inspection or repair. Either one of the plates 7 with the bearing may be detached from the casting 1 and slid on the shaft 28. Then the ring 45 may be removed, or one of the plates 46, which hold the ring together, may be taken off and the governor, &c., in the interior of the ring may be reached, or the pistons 47 may be slid sidewise from the ring 45.

Having now described my invention, I claim' 1. In a rotary engine, the combination of a rotating circular ring, an elliptical enveloping wall, and. solid pistons of circular form mounted in and extending through said rotating circular ring at the quarter-points thereof and continuously engaging said elliptical enveloping wall.

2. In a rotary engine, the combination of a rotating circular ring, an elliptical enveloping wall, pistons projecting from said ring at the quarter-points thereof, inlet-ports consisting of a series of passages separated from each other by spaces but lying in a common plane and inclined so as to be practically tangential to said circular ring, and exhaustports consisting of a series of passages separated from each other by spaces and lying in a common plane and crossing said first plane near the center thereof and inclined in the opposite direction thereto, said exhaustports passing said inlet-portsat the intersection of said planes in the spaces between said inlet-ports.

3. n a rotary engine, the combination of a rotating circular ring, an elliptical enveloping wall, pistons projecting from said ring at the quarter-points thereof, inlet-ports consisting of a series of parallel passages sepa rated from each other by spaces and entering the space between said ring and said wall at points diametrically opposite each other and to one side of the minor diameter of the ellipse and inclined so as to be practically tangential thereto, exhaust-ports consisting of a similar series of parallel passages crossing said inlet ports and correspondingly ar ranged on the other sides of the minor diameter of the ellipse and oppositely-inclined thereto, and a valve controlling the' pair of ports on each side of the engine and adapted to throttle said ports and to reverse the steam therein.

4. In a rotary engine, the combination of a rotating circular ring, an elliptical enveloping wall, pistons pro'ecting from said ring at the quarter-points t iereof, inletports con sisting of a series of parallel passages separated from each other by spaces and entering the space between said ring and said wall at points diametrically opposite each other and to one side of the minor diameter of the ellipse and inclined so as to be practically tangential thereto, exhaust-ports consisting of a similar series of parallel passages crossing said inletports and correspondingly arranged on the other sides of the minor diameter of the ellipse and oppositely inclined thereto, a valve on each side of the engine and controlling the pair of ports adjacent thereto and adapted to throttle said ports and to reverse the steam therein, and mechanism connecting said valves whereby they act on the ports in unison.

5. In a rotary engine, the combination of a rotating circular ring, an elliptical enveloping wall, pistons projecting from said ring at the quarter-points thereof, inlet-ports entering the space between said ring and said walls at points diametrically opposite each other and to one side of the minor diameter of the ellipse and inclined so as to be practically tangential thereto, exhaust-ports correspondingly arranged on the other sides of the minor diameter of the ellipse and oppositely inclined thereto, a valve on each side of the engine and controlling the pair of ports adjacent thereto and adapted to throttle said ports, a centrifugal governor, and connecting means whereby said governor can operate said valves.

6. In a rotary engine, the combination of a rotatin circular ring, an elliptical enveloping wal pistons projecting from said ring at the quarter-points thereof, inlet-ports entering the space between said ring and said wall at points diametrically opposite each other and to one side of the minor diameter of the ellipse and inclined so as to be practically tangential thereto, exhaust-ports correspondingly arranged on the other sides of the minor diameter of the ellipse and oppositely inclined thereto, a valve on each side of the engine and controlling the pair of ports adjacent thereto and adapted to throttle said ports, a centrifugal governor, a vertically-acting lever controlled by said governor, an inclined surface pivotally supported in contact with said lever and adapted to be moved thereby, and a rocking bar connecting said valves and secured to said pivotally-supported inclined surface whereby the movements of said governor are communicated to said valves.

7. In a rotary engine, the combination of a rotating circular ring, an elliptical enveloping wall, pistons projecting from said ring at the quarter-points thereof, inlet-ports entering the space between said ring and said Wall at points diametrically opposite each other and to one side of the minor diameter of the ellipse and inclined so as to be practically tangential thereto, exhaust-ports correspondingly arranged on the other sides of the minor diameter of the ellipse and oppositely inclined thereto, a valve on each side of the engine.

and controlling the pair of ports adjacent thereto and adapted to throttle said ports and to reverse the steam therein, a centrifugal governor, a vertically-acting lever controlled by said governor, a pair of oppositelyinclined surfaces formed on a single lever pivotally supported on the engine, a spring adapted to pull said pivoted lever to one side or the other so that one of said inclined sur faces is always in contact with said vertically-acting lever, and a rocking bar connecting said valves and secured to said pivotally-supported inclined surface whereby the movements of said governor are communicated to said. valves.

8. In a rotary engine, the combination of a rotating circular ring, an elliptical enveloping wall, pistons projecting from said ring at the quarter-points thereof, inlet-ports entering the space between said ring and said wall at points diametrically opposite each other and to one side of the minor diameter of the ellipse and inclined so as to be practically tangential thereto, exhaust-ports correspondingly arranged on the other sides of the minor diameter of the ellipse and oppositely inclined thereto, a valve on each side of the engine and controlling the air of ports adj acent thereto and adapter to throttle said ports and to reverse the steam therein, a centrifugal governor, a vertically-acting lever controlled by said governor, a pair of oppositely-inclined surfaces formed on a single lever pivotally supported on the engine, a hand-operated adjustable bar, a spring connecting said adjustable bar to said pivoted lever and adapted to pull said. lever in accordance with the position of said adjustable bar so that one of said inclined surfaces is always in contact with said vertically-acting lever, and a rocking bar connecting said valves and secured to said pivotally-supported inclined surface whereby the movements of said governor are communicated to said valves.

9. In an engine, inletand exhaust ports, a valve adapted to throttle said ports, a centrifugal governor driven by said engine, a le- I ports.

11. In a reversible rotary engine, the combination of inlet and exhaust orts, a valve controlling said ports, auxiliary exhaustports located at the mouths of said inlet and exhaust ports, and a valve within each of said auxiliary ports whereby said auxiliary port may be either opened or closed.

12 In a reversible rotary engine, the combination of inlet and exhaust ports, a valve controlling said ports, auxiliary exhaustports, a valve within each of said auxiliary ports whereby said auxiliary port may be either opened or closed, and means operated by said first valve whereby said second valves are opened and closed.

13. In a rotary engine, the combination of a rotating circular ring mounted on a shaft, a centrifugal governor mounted on said shaft within said circular ring and rotating therewith, and means operated by .said governor whereby the longitudinal motion thereof operates the valve controlling the steam inlet and exhaust ports.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARTIN L, WILLIAMS. Witnesses:

M. H. COREY, HERMAN GoEBEL. I 

